Double murder suspects seek change of venue

An Evansville murder suspect will not get the early trial he requested, Vanderburgh County’s chief public defender told a Superior Court judge today.

Suspect William Rice, 19, asked for an early trial during his initial hearing earlier this month. Under Indiana law, that means he would have to be brought to trial within 70 calendar days of the request, though there are some exceptions to the rule.

Rice and 22-year-old Deshay Hackner are each charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Dewone Broomfield, 29, and Mary Patrice Chalonda Woodruff, 28. Hackner also asked for an early trial in Vanderburgh Circuit Court. Both men face the possibility of life without parole.

Chief Public Defender Steve Owens appeared in court Wednesday for Rice’s review hearing and informed Judge Richard D’Amour that it would not be possible for the attorneys yet to be assigned to Rice to prepare his case in time for an early trial. The attorneys will not adopt Rice’s motion for an early trial.

Because prosecutors plan to seek a life sentence without parole if Rice is convicted, Owens said, the public defender’s office “has both a legal and ethical obligation” to complete investigations on Rice’s behalf. Those investigations can’t be finished within the 70 days from Rice’s request, he said.

Co-defendants Rice and Hackner cannot be represented by the same pair of attorneys or use the same investigators in their cases since they both face the possibility of life without parole sentences, according to Owens. He plans to look for investigators in Indianapolis or Louisville who can assist the public defenders.

He told a Circuit Court judge last week that the public defender's office would not adopt Hackner’s request for an early trial either. Rice and Hackner were both originally charged in Circuit Court, but Rice’s case was transferred to Superior Court 3 because he had a pending probation case in that court.

Owens said he expects to assign a lead and co-defender in Rice’s murder case this week.

Both Hackner and Rice could go to trial outside Vanderburgh County – Hackner requested a change of venue last week and Rice, who appeared to be reading from a prepared statement, did the same in court Wednesday.

“I fear not having a fair trial in Vanderburgh County due to the not-guilty verdict of my co-defendant’s last murder case,” Rice said, referring to Hackner’s indictment for the Thanksgiving 2014 murder of Willie Williams. Hackner was found not guilty at trial. “And my (inaudible) co-defendant and my names’ being slandered and our characters being defamed over the news and social media.”

Rice went on to ask that his trial take place in a different county.

Owens told Rice that Hackner’s attorney had already filed a motion for a change of venue and that he anticipated the office would do the same for Rice within a week.

Hackner and Rice are accused of shooting and killing Broomfield and Woodruff in Evansville last month.

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Crime scene tape blocks off the scene of a double homicide that took place Monday night, Oct. 30 at 213 E. Maryland Street in Evansville. According to a release from the Vanderburgh County Coroner's office, Dewone Broomfield, 29, and Mary Patrice Chalonda Woodruff, 28, were the victims in the slaying that the Evansville Police department is currently investigating. (Photo: SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS)

Police were called to a home in the 200 block of East Maryland Street late Oct. 30 after Broomfield reportedly called 911 and said he had been shot.

Police say Broomfield identified Hackner and Rice as his shooters to 911 dispatchers during his call and to officers when they arrived at the house. Broomfield and Woodruff were both pronounced dead at area hospitals shortly before midnight Oct. 30.

Rice and Hackner were arrested the next day after a police chase on the Southeast Side of Evansville. Hackner denied the murder accusations during his initial hearing.

Both men are being held in the Vanderburgh County Jail with no bond available.

Rice’s next hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday in Superior Court 3. Hackner’s next hearing is set for 1 p.m. Thursday in Circuit Court.

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Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding responds to a letter the state inspector sent to the county about the jail.
Noah Stubbs / Courier & Press